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Mental health

Functional Connectivity in Social Perception Pathway at Birth Linked to Autism Biomarker

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine has shed light on the early development of social perception pathways in neonates, including those with a family history of autism. The study found that intrinsic functional connectivity in these pathways at birth is linked to attention to faces at four months, a critical biomarker for autism. The findings suggest that the right-lateralized social perception pathway, which includes the superior temporal sulcus and fusiform gyrus, may be an area of interest for identifying early neural markers of social vulnerabilities associated with autism.

Key Takeaways:

  • The right-lateralized social perception pathway, including the superior temporal sulcus and fusiform gyrus, supports processing of dynamic, multimodal facial cues and processing of static facial features, respectively.
  • Intrinsic functional connectivity in these pathways at birth is linked to attention to faces at four months, an early autism biomarker.
  • 310 full-term, typically developing neonates were examined in the dHCP study, while 73 full-term Yale neonates with and without a family history of autism were investigated.
  • The study found that connectivity in the social pathway increased with age.
  • The right-lateralized social perception pathway represents an area of interest for identifying early neural markers of social vulnerabilities associated with autism.

Statistics:

  • 310 full-term, typically developing neonates were examined in the dHCP study.
  • 73 full-term Yale neonates with and without a family history of autism were investigated.
  • 37 Yale participants had their attention to faces assessed via eye tracking at 4.1 months (SD = 0.3).
  • The study found that all 4 pathways showed significant intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) (p < .159).
  • Connectivity in the social pathway increased with age.

Sources:

  • Functional Connectivity in the Social Perception Pathway at Birth Is Linked to Attention to Faces at Four Months (Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 2025;5(6):100597)
  • Study Results from Yale University School of Medicine in the Area of Autism Reported (Mental Health Weekly Digest, November 3, 2025; p 874)

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